27th GERRY WEBER OPEN 2019 • June 15th to 23rd 2019

Powerful win

Alexander Zverev defeats Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets

Alexander Zverevs' game had the audience totally exalted at the GERRY WEBER STADION. It was a sensational tennis match, that Roberto Bautista Agut and the German no. one played. After two very tight sets Alexander Zverev had more power in the end and won 6:7(6), 7:6(1), 6:1.

In two sets both players served very well. None had a break point in the first set. In the second set Alexander Zverev had one, but couldn't use it. Spectators were reminded of the legendary match in the Semis at Wimbledon 1991 between Michael Stich and Stefan Edberg. Back then, the German won in four sets without once taking the service off the Swede. The result is well-known. Stich went on to defeat Boris Becker in the finals to win Wimbledon.

But Alexander Zverev is not quite that far yet. But his power shown in the tie-break of the second set and in the whole third round, was fantastic. Roberto Bautista Agut could defy him up to 7:6(6), 6:6, didn't lose him calm, but then the young German literally exploded. He won the tie-break 7:1 to equalize the set.

At the beginning of the third set the Spaniard won his first service, but then there was only really one player on the lawn in Halle in action: Alexander Zverev. "I think, Roberto was a bit tied. 2 1/2 hours of lawn tennis are exhausting. That's why I am glad to have won this match and now to be in the Semifinals", so said a weary but very satisfied winner.

After 2016 Alexander Zverev has now the chance to get to the finals at the GERRY WEBER OPEN again. He will now play the Frenchman Richard Gasquet - another difficult task.